Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-26


HUTs-UNDRANED, UNHEALTHY CITY.
CrTY OF MEXICO March 18th, 1887.
Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR,
This city, the capital OF the federal district, lies
In great basin, which, prehistoric evidences fully
establish. was once lake. The federal district
embraces only $50 square miles. while the city
proper is about 2x miles square, and has an esti-
mated population OF 10000 Inhabitants, COM
posed OF pure-blood Aztecs, Spaniards and mixed
races Looking out from the tower Of the great
catneoral where one gets birds-eye view OF the
gushing city, with the domes, towers and turrets
OF ancient churches the thronged Streets and nat
rooB OF the homes OF princes and peasants the eye
instinctively sweeps over beyond the surrounding
fertile plain. with its haciendas, its chapels and
s S to the rock-nbbed mountains, which rise
Mgn above the city, like great impregnable wall,
WMle the snowy peak OF old Popocatepetl is gilded
an g9den g giory above the clouds The city has
pies portion OF the area Of the ancient Aztec city
OF Tenocht1tlan, which was founded by this
SSsaaage people in the 18th century There are cyl
uenGos proving conclustvely that prior to this date
That they occupied Chapultepec, famed as nota.
centuries.
This strong fortress was connected with the
ancienI city In the lake by great cauSeway, ana
now occupied by the modern one which supplies
Ine CITY with water. While the literature of the
on shdows nttle light upon the strange civilza
t Iaon "Mcn evidently dominated this land for at
SasC nine centuries prior to the landing OF the
Hpanards IN 1919 yet there is left mysterious
legacy In the traces of their civilization, found
everywhere in carvings on stone on the idols they
MOlsMped, and On the mounds and pyramids they
OHit: But no student OF antiquities has yet been
mysteries OF the hidden language and history Of
Ine strange people who lived and fourshed in this
ntn ta aan1 centuries ago. and who have passed
otner historians, after great research, have
given to the world new revelation as to
an and history Of the
H MaIs, ssges and conflicts; but far back ante
aatng the period covered by these interesting dis
ran relics which may yet be read as an open book
Dy some future student Of the carvings, hero
giypnlcs and other prehistoric evidences OF past
mexico. II we look to the northward Of the city,
our eye falls upon the raised stone causeway.
LOO ieet long, the Calzada de Guadalupe, which
was quilt 15O years ago. On its sides are stone
Dencnes ana numerous shrtnes, where the faithful
knelt and worshiped on their way to the holy
t OF GuadaluDe which stands on an emil
The virgin Of Guadalupe has received recogni-
lion TIC tb 0y several popes and was finally declared 70
was the marsellaise Of both rebels and oyalists in
the war for independence, and by decree the 10th
OF December was madea
NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HONOR OF THE VIRGIN GuADA-
LUPE,
ana every year thousands make long pill
gr1mages to be present on that day to worship
at the virgins shrine, whose miraculous image
Is set In frame OF silver and gold In the
Nuestra Sonora de Guadalupe, an ediice built in
l69o-ls4 feet long, 122 feet wide with a vaulted
r0Ol, supported by massive Corinthian columns.
me finish Is white and gold, and the cost OF the
structure was about 81 200, 600 The value of the
LEVELS o gold and silver plate which were taken
menCl Is var1OuSly estimated, one party assuring us
IL II Is not strange that we found In
of the Republic to the other the image OF the viz
gives any cue to the number OF inhabitants
stroyed by the Spaniards, in 1919 after a long
and bloody siege. The present city was laid out
by its conquerors with broad avenues and streets,
winch are now well paved and lighted with gas
and electric lights. The buildings In the business
part Of the town are substantial stone structures
are all patterned after the old Spanish castles.
There are grated windows, and one wide open door,
through which the carriage is driven and the guests
rage guests, and the funeral cortege ali ind en-
trance and exit through this open gateway, Here
every SUCH home Is the occupants castle. Later
we must Visit the dwelling places OF some Of that
far more numerous class around whose one-stOry,
one-roOm adobe huts clusters all there is TO them
OF that sacred word we call home. Descending
from the lofty towers Of the cathedral with its
bell 10 feet high let pass out OF the great struc-
ture 3S7 feet long, with width OF III feet, with
ttS oa sTe1, god onyx ana precious stones;
ago stood the Aztec temple, massive pile, which
was 100 years In building and cost s., O0O, 600.
The combination OF the dOr1c and gothic style Is
In keeping with the Spanish architecture of the
sixteenth century. Its dirty plank floor is worn
IN ruts by millions who have come hither to wor-
ship. The heavy futed columns are not in har-
m0ny with the grand conceptions OF the architect.
On the walls are many fine paintings OF the virgin
OF Guadalupe and other saints and Old-time digni-
tar1e2 In the chapel stands monument OF ILur-
b1de, the first Mexican emperor, on which Is in
scribed 'sThe LiDerator." There are sixty-two
are elaborate and costly structures and all of
them at least two centuries Old. The old converts
and mOnasterteS are not now permitted, and many
purposes have paintings OF priests and Cardinals
The Clearly appearance OF this capital as well as
all the cities We have visited will compare favor
ably with our own. The CITY, being level plain,
has
NO SYSTEM OF GENERAL SEWERAGE
and many plans have been proposed to remedy the
difficulty. Nothing short OF q long, deep tunnel
constructed at the expense OF Millions can drain
this basin and carry OH the Stagnant, fever-breed-
Ing fluid that stands fostering everywhere and
makes the death-rate In the city the most Excess
s1ve OF any OF It's size on the continent. There is
best authorities put the yearly number at from
$4,000 to $1,000. The climate is q surprise to
Americans, VINO expect the nearneSs to the tropics
Will certainly make the heat most oppressive. At
midday you require an umbrella to shield you
from the heat or the sun, but on stepping across
the street into the shade you want your OVercOat,
and at night you are sure to call the porter for an
extra covering for your bed The norther that
sweeps up from Vera Cruz sends chill along
the spinal column, and you sigh in vain
for fire In the CRATE, and as lRst resort
retire TO your hard bed With an earn
est hope that the coming day will wart breezes
from a balmier region In street tramways the
MexicanS are more ShreWd than theirY ankee neigh
DOrs. Where are nearly hundred miles OF these